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A. S. NIELSEN AND J. W. THOMPSON.

CRANK FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-31, 1916.

Patented Nov; 23,

' INVENTORS ATTORNEY.

TATE EPATENT QEFICE.

AXEL S. NIELSEN AND JESSE V]. THOMPSON, OF SAN FRANCTSCO, CALIFORNIA.

CRANK FOR COMBUSTION-ENGINES.

ssasae.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, AXEL S. NIELSEN, a subject of the King of Denmark, and J nssn W. THoMrsoN, a citizen of the United States, both residents of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cranks for Combustion-Engines, whereof the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cranks for combustion engines, particularly of that class adapted especially for propelling automobiles'. And it object is to provide safety means for cranking the same, whereby any risk that might occur from back fire will be eliminated.

In the one sheet of drawing forming a part of this specification I Figure 1 is a side elevation taken partly in section on a line through the center of the device as applied to an automobile.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing a gripping device.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the pivotal means used for stopping the circular motion of the crank handle, caused by a back fire of the engine, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawing includes the usual cranking handle 1, having the swiveled handle 2 at one end and a socket 3 at its opposite end which in turn is rotatably mounted on the main shaft 4. The shaft 4 has a male clutch 5 adapted to engage the female clutch 6 when properly forced against the tension of the springs 7, which springs are necessary to throw the crank handle out of engagement when the engine has started. No patentable novelty lies in the facts just stated as they are common practice on all of the modern oil propelled vehicles.

The shaft 4 is loosely secured to the frame work of an automobile by means of brackets 8, provided with an outward sleeve extension 9, and around which is a collar 10 carrying an extended arm 11, provided with' a slot 12 adapted to engage a pin 13 to be described hereinafter.

In the collar 10, we form a depression in which we place a gripping device 14 in such a manner that its front face 15 willbe in true vertical alinement with the face 16 of the extended arm 11. This gr pping device is of the band-brake style, consisting of two Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 23, 1920.

Application filed October 31, 1916. Serial No. 128,668.

segmental cams secured together at one end around the sleeve extension 9, by bolt a and the opposite ends being pivoted at 17 and 18, the object of which will be hereinafter described. I

The crank handle 1 is rotatably mounted on the collar 20 fastened to the shaft4 by means of key 21, and is provided with a depression 22, shown in Fig. 3 for housing a latch 23 pivotally secured at 24. This latch has on its lower face an extension bar 25 provided with a weight 26 secured atthe end thereof, and pin 13 previously mentioned which projects therefrom at right angles to engage the slot 12 of extended arm 11.

The socket 3 of the crank handle 1 slida'bly fits the collar 20 on the shaft 4, and the collar is milled through as at 27 (Fig. 3) to permit the end 28 of the latch 23 to engage the groove 29 on collar 20, and thereby lock the same in position.

The engaging movement of the latch is effected by the extension bar 25 with its weight 26, and the adjustable tension spring 30, secured at one end to the crank handle 1, and at the other end to the bar 25, so that in normal condition the bar 25 always assumes a perpendicular position.

The spring just mentioned is adjustably secured to bar 25 by means of a hook bolt 31 having knurled nut 40 operating against post 41, and thereby regulating the tension of the spring.

It will be observed that the outer end of the sleeve extension 9 is eccentrically reduced, so that the gripping device 14 embraces a portion which is eccentric to the portion on which the collar 10 is mounted. Hence. any oscillation of the collar 10 will cause the gripper arms 14 to grip or release their portion of the sleeve. I

The mode of operation is as follows: The crank handle 1 is pressed forward against the tension of the springs 7 in the usual manner so that the male clutch 5 on the shaft 4 engages the female clutch 6 As soon as the crank handle 1 is rotated the latch 23 having its end 28 engaging the groove 29 causes the collar 20 with the shaft 4 to rotate, and gives thereby a rotating impulse to the engine. At the same time the pin 13 on the arm 25 engages the slot 12 and rotates the collar 10 around the sleeve ex tension 9. If a back fire occurs the gripping device 14, as previously mentioned, will be gradually tightened around the ecentric portion of sleeve extension 9, until the movement has-ceased. By this operation the crank handle 1 will slightly move backward, without any dangerous results to the operator.

On a backward rotation of the collar 20 carrying the latch 23, engaged at the point 29 of the collar, the bar 25, with the weight 26 hung to the latch 23 will be thrown off tangentially out of engagement with the groove 29, allowing thereby the shaft i and collar 20 (to revolve freely. The same result will be obtained with the gripping device previously mentioned. The movement as seen in Fig. 3 is clockwise, and the impulse comes from the part 3, and the shaft 4 and sleeve 20 are carried with it. In case of backfire, however, the impulse comes from the shaft' l and its sleeve 20, and the jerk given to the member 3 carries it away from its position and the inertia of the weight 26 holds it back, as seen in the dotted lines in Fig. 3, thus releasing the cranking handle.

When the back fire movement has ceased the latch 23 will again engage the collar 20,

and the cranking operation can be repeated..

Having thus described our invention, and an embodiment of it, in full, clear and exact terms required by law, and knowing that it comprises novel, useful and valuable improvements in the art to which it pertains we here state that we do not wish to bev limited to the precise construction and arrang ment of the several parts, as herein set forth, as the same may be variously modified by a skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

W'hat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is the following, to-wit 1. In combination with the driving shaft of a combustion engine, a crank shaft alined with said driving shaft provided with a fixed collar, a clutch device interposed between said shafts, a starting crank handle on said crank shaft, and latch pivoted on said crank handle adapted to. engage a notch on said collar.

2. In combination with the driving shaft of a combustion engine, a crank shaft alined with said driving shaft, a clutch interposed between said shafts, a fixed collar on said crank shaft, a starting 0 ank handle on said crank shaft rotatable on said collar and a latch pivoted on said crank handle adapted to engage a notch on said collar.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing we have hereto set our hands in the presence of two witnesses, this 21st, day of October, 1916.

AXEL S. NIELSEN. JESSE W. THOMPSON. Witnesses:

SARAH J. TrroMrsoN, LOUISE BEARDEN. 

